Catholic News

NAIROBI, Kenya — In addition to theological reflections on marriage and the sacraments, the final report addressing the pastoral challenge of polygamy in Africa, which members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) issued on March 24, draws attention to a wide range of social, cultural, and pastoral realities shaping the practice across the continent.

While reaffirming the Christian ideal of monogamous marriage, the 25-page report compiled by the SECAM commission — made up of selected theologians and professionals from relevant ecclesiastical disciplines — emphasizes that understanding the persistence of polygamy requires careful analysis of social change, legal frameworks, gender relations, and pastoral strategies within African societies.

The report is a direct response to the mandate that the multiyear XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops — known as the Synod on Synodality — gave Catholic bishops in Africa: "to promote theological and pastoral discernment on the issue of polygamy."

Polygamy in a changing African social landscape

In the report, the SECAM commission members note that polygamy cannot be understood solely through the lens of traditional culture. African societies have undergone profound transformation in recent decades.

"The traditional environment has crumbled," they said, leading to a climate in which many long-standing institutions and values are increasingly questioned. This transformation has also affected the dynamics of marriage and family life.

Sociological studies cited in the report identify infertility as one of the principal motivations behind contemporary polygamy, though the report emphasizes that the reasons are complex.

Despite modernization and evangelization, it notes that the practice of polygamy has not disappeared. Instead, "it remains alive and well" and, in some contexts, has even regained popularity.

One notable development the SECAM commission members highlight in the report is the changing role of women in African societies. They observe that women increasingly occupy key economic roles, particularly within the informal sector.

Legal frameworks across Africa

In the report, commission members also highlight the legal status of polygamy across the continent.

They note that roughly 30 African countries have legal frameworks that permit polygamy — either through civil law, customary law, or religious legislation. The list includes countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Morocco, and South Africa.

However, the report points out that legal recognition of polygamy does not necessarily indicate broad societal consensus. In many countries, women's movements have increasingly challenged these laws.

"More and more women are speaking out against legislation in favor of polygamy, which is considered unfair and disrespectful of gender equality," the report says.

This tension between cultural tradition, legal frameworks, and evolving social values forms a significant part of the pastoral context in which the Catholic bishops in Africa must address the issue of polygamy, the SECAM commission says in the report.

The question of women's dignity

A central theme in the report is the dignity of women within both cultural and ecclesial contexts.

Pastoral responses to polygamy must explicitly seek "to enhance the dignity of women," the report says. The report acknowledges that women sometimes choose polygamous arrangements for practical or cultural reasons — however, it raises theological questions about whether such choices correspond to God's plan for human relationships.

From a biblical perspective, polygamy "does not promote the development of women as intended by God," according to the report. Therefore, pastoral strategies that help Christian communities reflect critically on cultural assumptions about gender roles and marriage are important.

Economic vulnerability and the practice of polygamy

The report also links polygamy to economic vulnerability, particularly among widows.

One example the SECAM commission members highlight is the traditional practice of levirate marriage, in which a widow marries a relative of her deceased husband in order to secure protection and support for herself and her children.

While acknowledging the social security function of this practice, the report questions whether it can also lead to forms of exploitation and whether such arrangements risk reducing women to objects of exchange within family structures.

For this reason, the commission members highlight the importance of pastoral care directed specifically toward widows. Ensuring their "material and moral security" can help prevent situations in which women feel compelled to enter polygamous relationships for survival, the report states.

Hidden or 'veiled' forms of polygamy

Another issue raised in the report is what the SECAM commission members call "veiled polygamy."

This term refers to situations in which individuals maintain multiple sexual relationships outside formal marriage, resulting in families in which children are born to parents who are not married to one another.

Although such situations do not present the same doctrinal challenges as formal polygamy, the commission members say they consider this harmful both to society and to the Church.

One difficulty, they note, is that social stigma often falls disproportionately on women raising children outside marriage. The absence of fathers also raises concerns about the well-being of children.

In response, the report calls for stronger pastoral formation within Christian communities so that believers can accompany families facing these realities with maturity and responsibility.

Preparing couples for Christian marriage

The commission members in the report repeatedly emphasize that prevention is as important as pastoral accompaniment.

Many cases of polygamy among baptized Christians arise from cultural expectations about fertility. In many African contexts, the inability to bear children can place intense pressure on a marriage, the report notes.

Therefore, the report calls for rigorous marriage preparation programs that help couples understand the Christian meaning of marriage. While the desire for children is recognized as a legitimate cultural value, the reports stresses that biological fertility is not essential to the sacramental reality of marriage.

Christian marriage, the SECAM commission members state, must be understood primarily as a covenant of love and fidelity rather than simply a means of producing offspring.

A broader question of inculturation

Throughout the report, commission members frame the issue of polygamy as part of a broader challenge of inculturation — the process of expressing Christian faith within diverse cultural contexts.

They acknowledge that the Church's engagement with African cultures has evolved significantly since the missionary era.

While earlier pastoral approaches often treated polygamy primarily as a moral problem to be eliminated, today the Church must combine fidelity to the Gospel with attentive listening to cultural realities.

In their concluding reflections, SECAM commission members call for continued dialogue among Catholic bishops in Africa, theologians, and pastoral workers to evaluate existing pastoral models and, where necessary, "propose other paths, with the aim of offering to all the possibility of an encounter with Christ and his Gospel."

In this way, the issue of polygamy is not simply a disciplinary question but part of the broader task of shaping an authentically African expression of Christian family life.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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Criminals are posing as representatives of Catholic Charities in order to target and steal money from immigrants in the United States, making off with sometimes tens of thousands of dollars after promising immigration services to desperate migrants.

The scams have appeared in multiple states, with advocates scrambling to protect immigrants from being robbed by thieves posing as Catholic service providers.

Cecilia Baxter, an attorney with Hogar Immigrant Services at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, told EWTN News that the crimes have been running at least as far back as the summer of 2025.

"Scammers are using the name, images, and likeness of Catholic Charities USA — or just the name Catholic Charities in general — to scam immigrants by promising them services and then not following through," she said.

Baxter noted that immigration law is "super complex" and that those in the country without authorization are "always looking for relief," specifically legal status.

A lot of people who do have legal status, meanwhile, "are just uncertain about immigration law."

Oftentimes, she said, the victim will see an advertisement on social media promising services from an immigration attorney who allegedly works for Catholic Charities. Most Catholic charity affiliates offer various immigration-related services, including legal assistance.

"Some [victims] are told they might qualify for a visa, for instance," Baxter said. "They'll reach out. They'll get fake contracts, they'll send money, and then they never hear back."

In some cases the stolen money could amount to several hundred dollars. In other cases the amount stolen has run as high as around $20,000, Baxter said.

"These people are desperate," the attorney said. "They're reaching out to a lot of sources, such as family, and sometimes digging themselves into deep holes of debt."

'I don't think it's getting better'

Reports of the scams are not limited to Virginia. 

Daniel Altenau, a spokesman for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, said the diocese is "hearing more and more cases of immigrants falling victim to scams using Catholic Charities logos/materials."

Consuelo Kwee, the director of immigration services at the Raleigh charity, told EWTN News that the crisis is "nationwide."

She said she has heard from victims in Missouri, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and other states. The scams have been active for at least a year, she confirmed.

Kwee said that many of the scams begin on social media sites such as Facebook. "They are using our name, our logo, even the name of one of our staff members and our director," she said.

"The scammer will reach out via WhatsApp or text; usually WhatsApp," she said. "They lure in the client by telling them that everything is going to be free. Then they start asking for money, and they're very persistent."

Some scammers use both Catholic Charities forms and official government immigration forms to ply the victims, she said.

"We are desperate," she admitted. "We see people falling for this so much." She said in one case a man contacted her weeping after having lost $40,000 over the course of a year while trying to bring his family to the United States.

"It's horrible," she said. "Horrible."

Advocates have taken steps to try and head off the scams. Baxter noted that the Arlington Diocese's Catholic charity has released a flyer warning about the fraud scheme, urging immigrants to avoid providing any information to suspicious contacts online.

The flyer, in both English and Spanish, instructs would-be victims to contact Catholic Charities to report the scam and to inform banks and credit card companies in the event that any financial information was shared. Baxter said victims can also speak to local bar agencies.

Kwee said the Raleigh Diocese has taken similar steps, including a digital alert warning immigrants of the potential for scams.

Baxter admitted that the situation is "really murky."

"I thought it was getting better," she said. But the agency has recorded multiple scam reports in recent weeks. "I don't think it's getting better. It seems to be just as bad if not worse."

She said the scammers have become adept at posing as Catholic Charities officials.

"We've seen some of the documents that [victims] have received," she said. "At first glance, if you have an untrained eye, you can see how people fall for it. They're using the watermarks of Catholic Charities USA. They have the right words."

"Or they'll say the consultation is free but the fees for filing must be paid," she said. "They're very manipulative."

Baxter noted that it's a "scary time" for immigrants in the country illegally. Heavy immigration crackdown by the Trump administration has seen hundreds of thousands of deportations in 2025 and 2026.

The fraught environment means that immigrants in the country illegally are more afraid than usual of going to law enforcement even when they are scammed out of thousands of dollars, she said.

"They're really afraid," she said. "They're really scared."

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In a conference marking the 80th anniversary of Soviet Russia's suppression of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, John Paul II's official biographer argued that Orthodox-Catholic relations could see a revival.

While previous popes had carried experiential "baggage" with respect to the Orthodox church into their pontificates, Weigel said Pope Leo XIV "gets it in terms of what is actually going on" and predicted renewed promise for Orthodox-Catholic relations under his pontificate.

While he acknowledged Leo has only been pope for less than 11 months, Weigel said: "This is a deliberate man. I believe that he will work deliberately to try to reformulate this, but we're going to have to give him time."

Weigel's remarks came during a panel at an event organized by the Center of Ukrainian Studies at The Catholic University of America, the Ukrainian University, and the St. Gabriel Institute titled "The Pseudo-Sobor 80 Years Later: The Persecution Continues."

Weigel said in his own interactions with the Holy Father, he has suggested that the approach to dialogue with Orthodox churches should not center on theological primacy as heavily as in the past.

Rather, he said, it should focus on the fact that Orthodoxy "does not have a credible 21st-century church," with a fully formed approach to church-state relations, particularly in light of the Russia-Ukraine war.

"It needs to get one," he said. "And the people who actually have a fully developed social aspect are the Catholics, and that should be where the focus should be," Weigel said.

"It would be a matter of Rome saying, 'Look, it took us 200 years at least to figure out the post-Constantinian period to understand religious freedom within our own theological framework as a fundamental human right … Maybe we can help you with this. Maybe we can learn something from you," he said.

Weigel said the dialogue will need to happen outside of formal settings and that with Leo, he believes "there will be over time an opening" to such discussions.

Under this approach, he said, Rome can move on from previously unsuccessful efforts to engage with the Orthodox church.

The panel discussion comes amid the 80th anniversary of the 1946 Pseudo-Sobor on March 8–10.

After Ukraine came under Soviet control during World War II, the Stalin regime began a campaign against the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), arresting its leader, Metropolitan Josyf Slipyj, in April 1945 along with other bishops in the Slovak territory, panelist Katerina Budz recounted.

With their bishops imprisoned and faced with their own arrest if they refused to comply, priests and lay members of the UGCC were summoned by a Soviet initiative group to participate in the 1946 Pseudo-Sobor, in which a vote was cast to officially sever ties with the Vatican and "reunify" with the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Imagine," Budz said, "your bishop is imprisoned, and unless you agree to join the initiative group, most likely you will be too. After your arrest, the church will be closed, your parishioners will have no pastoral care, and your wife and children will no longer be able to count you as a family provider."

"It was in this particularly challenging environment that the Greek Catholic clergy had to make life-changing decisions," she said, noting the clergy also faced backlash from the nationalist underground forces and from their parishioners.

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BRUSSELS — The European Commission has appointed former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness as its new special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU, ending a vacancy of more than a year that had raised concerns among lawmakers and Church leaders.

The position focuses on promoting FoRB in the EU's external relations, including engagement with third countries, international organizations, and civil society.

McGuinness brings senior institutional experience to the role. During her time in the European Parliament, she led dialogue with churches, religious organizations, and philosophical groups under Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which provides a formal framework for engagement between EU institutions and faith communities.

The European Parliament's Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief welcomed the appointment, with co-chairs Mirjam Lexmann and Bert-Jan Ruissen saying it was "high time" the post was filled after remaining vacant for over a year.

Ruissen pointed to ongoing global challenges, including serious violence and persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria and surrounding countries, the situation of religious minorities in Syria, and anti-conversion laws in Pakistan and India.

Lexmann emphasized the envoy's importance in today's turbulent world: "In the rough sea that characterises today's geopolitical reality, the protection of freedom of religion or belief, which is a fundamental human right, must remain our compass. It is precisely in moments of global uncertainty and conflict that the European Union must stand firm in defending human dignity, religious freedom, and the values on which the European project was founded."

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomed the appointment. COMECE President, Italian Bishop Mariano Crociata, noted that the bishops' conferences have worked closely with McGuinness in the past.

Crociata underlined that the role is a key component of the EU's external action and is essential for advancing the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

COMECE reiterated its call for the position to be supported by a strong mandate and adequate resources, especially amid rising global discrimination and persecution of religious communities.

The special envoy post was created in 2016 following calls from the European Parliament to strengthen the EU's response to global religious persecution, including attacks by ISIS against Christians and other religious minorities.

The first holder was Slovak politician Ján Figel, who served from 2016 to 2019. He was actively involved in international advocacy efforts on behalf of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row after being falsely accused of blasphemy. She was acquitted in 2018 and now lives in Canada.

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In an incident described as unprecedented, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land and the official responsible for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the church as they made their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.

According to a joint statement issued March 29 by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land, police stopped the two church leaders on their way as they were proceeding privately "without any ceremonial or liturgical manifestations," and forced them to turn back.

The statement noted that, for the first time in centuries, this action prevented church leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It described the incident as a "serious and dangerous precedent," adding that it "disregards the sentiments of millions of believers around the world whose eyes turn to Jerusalem during this week."

The statement emphasized that church leaders had acted with full responsibility, noting that since the beginning of the war they had complied with all imposed restrictions, including canceling public gatherings and limiting attendance, while relying instead on broadcast celebrations reaching hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide during the Easter season. It further stressed that preventing the patriarch and the custos of the Holy Land—who represent the highest ecclesiastical authorities responsible for the Catholic Church and the holy sites—from entering the church constitutes a measure that is "clearly unreasonable and disproportionate."

The decision, the statement added, was "hasty and based on flawed grounds," "tainted by inappropriate considerations," and represents "a serious departure from the fundamental principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo." In conclusion, the two church leaders expressed their "deep regret" to Christians in the Holy Land and around the world after "prayer on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar was prevented in this manner."

Israeli authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Celebrations under restrictions

On the security front, Jerusalem and the wider Holy Land continue to experience heightened tensions amid the ongoing regional conflict, which has directly affected daily life and the practice of religious rites. According to media reports, preparations for religious celebrations such as Easter and Holy Saturday have been accompanied by strict security measures, with some traditional events canceled due to security threats and reports of rockets landing near religious sites in the Holy City. Authorities have imposed limits on gatherings and restricted access to certain holy places.

Pizzaballa has repeatedly highlighted the deep suffering of Christians in the region amid the ongoing conflict, calling for prayer and support for Christian communities facing increasing challenges due to war and insecurity. In previous statements, he emphasized the importance of providing spiritual and moral support to Christians in the Holy Land, underscoring the need for them to remain in their homeland and affirming that the Church continues its mission and services despite ongoing risks.

Reports from religious and community sources have also pointed to a rise in attacks against Christians and Christian properties in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including acts of violence by settlers. These developments, according to various reports, reflect the deteriorating security conditions for Palestinian Christian communities amid ongoing settlement expansion, increasing the risk of displacement and further diminishing their historic presence in the Holy Land.

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A new audio podcast is bringing the Gospels to life through a new kind of experience. "The Christ," a four-part audio dramatization of Jesus' life — from his birth in the manger to his triumphant resurrection — is the first-ever full-scale dramatization of Jesus' life and ministry produced in this format.

With over 100 distinct characters and the use of cinematic production technology, the podcast features actors Tom Pelphrey as Jesus, David Oyelowo as Pontius Pilate; Paul Walter Hauser as John the Baptist; Courtney Hope as Mary, the mother of Jesus; Patricia Heaton as host; and John Rhys-Davies as the series narrator.

The four episodes will be released during Holy Week — starting on March 30 and ending on April 2.

Mark Ramsey, co-director and producer of the podcast, told EWTN News that he was inspired to create it because "it had yet to be done" and they "wanted to create something that was encouraging, that was thoughtful, that was familiar, that was exciting and fresh, something that supported everything you were hearing in church."

He added that he was also interested in it because his background is in creating projects that "are as cinematic as possible."

"I've always argued that the ears are underappreciated in terms of their contribution to our overall sensory experience," he said. "I wanted to make audio projects that leverage the power of sound, the power of the ear, that created pictures that didn't require video just like back in the day, except better and more modern."

Ramsey highlighted their commitment to be "as faithful as possible" to Scripture when writing the script.

He added that they "wanted to be very faithful to the Gospels because we realize we're literally dealing with sacred material. And people's response to it — they will have an expectation that we will be faithful to that material. So, we were committed to that faithfulness."

"The scenes were all from the Bible, all from the Gospels. How we chose those scenes and how we wove them together was really an artistic process, and it was a function of how well does this translate to audio," he explained. "There were certain miracles that wouldn't translate as well as certain other miracles. The miracle of enabling the deaf man to hear is perfect for this kind of vehicle. Enabling blind people to see not nearly so much."

While the podcast remains faithful to the Gospel stories, they took creative liberties in the sequence in which they are told. Ramsey said the first episode of the podcast actually culminates in the crucifixion of Jesus and then goes back to tell the story of his years in ministry.

For the producer, the most impactful part is the ending — in which Jesus tells his disciples to follow him.

"That gave a lasting message to not only the disciples but anyone listening. And that was ultimately the climax of the story that lives with us today. It is the message today — follow me. And the whole two hours is the why, but that message at the end is the ask. That's the question. That's the challenge," he shared.

Ramsey said he hopes the podcast "creates more hope in Holy Week."

"We hope it enhances the experience of Holy Week. We hope it brings a new dimension to a familiar story so that people can experience it in a new way and also in a way that's convenient to them wherever they are," he said.

"We wanted something that introduced people to the story who had never read the Bible and gave it to them in a convenient way. We wanted something that gave a deeper experience to those who knew the story inside out, had seen or read it many times, but maybe had never heard it unless they were hearing the words of the Bible."

"The Christ" can be heard wherever listeners get their podcast or directly on the podcast's website.

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LUANDA, Angola — The coordinator of the communications commission of the preparatory committee for the planned apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Angola has urged journalists to deepen their understanding of the Catholic Church to ensure accurate and responsible reporting on the upcoming papal trip.

Speaking on March 21 during the Jubilee of Angolan Journalists and Communication Professionals at the Journalists' Training Center in Luanda, Bishop António Francisco Jaca emphasized that credible coverage of the papal events requires familiarity with the Church's structure, mission, and foundational texts.

The event, which gathered about 120 journalists, forms part of the preparations for the apostolic visit scheduled for April 18–21.

Jaca encouraged media to consult key ecclesial documents such as the Code of Canon Law, the social doctrine of the Church, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church when covering Church-related matters.

"These documents are not necessarily for continuous reading like a novel but for consultation whenever necessary, enabling journalists to deepen their knowledge and speak more precisely on religious matters," said Jaca, who leads Angola's Benguela Diocese and doubles as the president of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. He is also a member of the Society of the Divine Word.

Jaca said the availability of Church resources on digital platforms has made it easier for journalists to access authoritative information while also increasing their responsibility to verify facts and avoid superficial interpretations.

He warned that insufficient knowledge of ecclesial realities can undermine the quality and credibility of media reporting.

"Understanding the Church is also understanding an important dimension of the lives of many Angolan citizens," he said.

Reflecting on the ethical responsibilities of journalists, he stressed that communication should promote truth, justice, and social cohesion. Misuse of media, he cautioned, can foster division and even trigger conflict, particularly in a digital environment shaped by social media and artificial intelligence.

"To communicate means to create harmony and promote the common good," Jaca said, urging journalists to resist misinformation, sensationalism, and hate speech as they cover Church events and public affairs.

The 62-year-old bishop also noted that journalists play a significant role in shaping public perception and must respect human dignity in their work.

"Truth must always be the guiding criterion of journalistic work," he said, noting that responsible reporting contributes to a more just and balanced society.

The training program at the Journalists' Training Center is part of the jubilee celebration that began on March 20 with reflections on its spiritual significance and concluded on March 22 with a closing Mass.

Explaining the meaning of the jubilee, Jaca described it as a biblical time of renewal, reconciliation, and restoration, symbolizing a return to justice, freedom, and equality.

He encouraged journalists to use the moment for self-examination and professional growth.

Also addressing participants was the apostolic nuncio in Angola and São Tomé, Archbishop Kryspin Witold Dubiel, who described preparations for the papal visit as a "school of humility," requiring reflection, adaptability, and continuous learning.

Dubiel noted that organizing such a major event involves complex challenges that demand both professional rigor and civic responsibility, contributing to both personal and collective growth.

Encouraging constructive reporting, the nuncio urged journalists to adopt positive and value-driven language, noting that "to bless Angola essentially means to speak well."

"Words have power and can either build up or destroy," he said, calling on media professionals to highlight messages that promote unity, hope, and social development.

Dubiel also emphasized that the way the papal visit is reported will shape collective memory, underscoring the need for responsible, balanced, and mission-oriented coverage.

The Vatican diplomat further encouraged Angolans to use the occasion to strengthen patriotism and commitment to national development, fostering a renewed sense of collective responsibility for the common good.

"The fruits of the visit should be both intellectual and spiritual," the native of Poland's Diocese of Przemysl said, urging a balance between critical thinking and faith, and sustained reflection beyond the event.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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Pope Leo XIV on Palm Sunday sharply condemned war and the use of religion to justify violence, saying during Mass in St. Peter's Square that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war."

At the start of Holy Week, the pope tied the Church's contemplation of Christ's Passion to the suffering of people caught in today's conflicts, especially Christians in the Middle East.

In his Palm Sunday homily, Leo repeatedly presented Christ as the "King of Peace," contrasting Jesus' meekness with the violence surrounding him as he entered into his Passion.

"We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms abounds him," the pope said. "He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence."

Leo said Christ "did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war" but instead "revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence."

"Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history," the pope said.

The pope then issued one of the strongest lines of his homily, rejecting any attempt to invoke God in support of armed conflict.

"Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," Leo said. "He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.'"

The Palm Sunday liturgy, which opened Holy Week, began with the traditional procession in St. Peter's Square with cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and thousands of faithful carrying palms and olive branches.

In his homily, Leo reflected on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a war horse, saying the moment fulfilled the prophecy of a king who would "command peace to the nations."

Recalling the Gospel account of Peter drawing a sword to defend Jesus, Leo cited Christ's rebuke: "Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

The pope said that in the crucified Christ "we can see a crucified humanity."

"In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today," he said. "Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war."

"Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!"

Following the Mass, Leo returned to the theme of war during the Angelus, praying in particular for Christians in the Middle East who have been prevented in some places from fully taking part in Holy Week rites.

"At the beginning of Holy Week, our prayers are more than ever with the Christians of the Middle East, who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days," he said.

"Just as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord's Passion, we cannot forget those who today are truly sharing in his suffering. Their ordeal challenges all our consciences."

The pope added: "Let us raise our prayer to the Prince of Peace that he may sustain the peoples wounded by war and open concrete paths to reconciliation and peace."

Leo also remembered "the maritime workers who have fallen victim to the conflict," adding: "I pray for the deceased, the wounded and their families. Land, sky and sea were all created for life and peace!"

He further called attention to migrants who died in the Mediterranean, saying: "Let us also pray for all the migrants who have died at sea, especially those who lost their lives in recent days off the coast of Crete."

Near the end of his homily, the pope entrusted his plea for peace to the intercession of Mary, quoting the Servant of God Bishop Tonino Bello and praying that "the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up."

He concluded the Angelus by asking the Virgin Mary to accompany the faithful through the days ahead.

"May she guide us during these holy days, so that we may follow Jesus, our Savior, with faith and love," he said.

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, EWTN News' Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum for the first time as pope this week.

Palm Sunday marks the start of the one of the busiest and fullest liturgical periods of the year for the Catholic Church and the Vatican, where Leo will celebrate five Masses and preside over several other liturgies and devotions between March 29 and April 6.

Here is the Vatican's full schedule for Holy Week and Easter 2026:

Palm Sunday

On Sunday morning, March 29, the pope will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square for Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday or the Commemoration of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem.

The 10 a.m. Mass will begin with a grand procession of the pope with deacons, priests, bishops, cardinals, and laypeople carrying large palms.

The procession, which will wind around the square and its central obelisk, includes olive tree branches, palm fronds, and the large, weaved palms called "palmureli." The Vatican expects to distribute 120,000 olive branches at the Mass.

Afterward, Leo will lead the Angelus prayer, as he does every Sunday.

Holy Thursday

Pope Leo will begin Holy Thursday, April 2, with the celebration of the chrism Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.

Many of the cardinals, bishops, and priests living in Rome typically concelebrate this Mass, in which the pope, as bishop of Rome, blesses the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the chrism oil to be used in the diocese during the coming year.

At 5:30 p.m., Leo will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Celebrating the Mass at the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome restores a long-standing practice that Pope Francis set aside in favor of demonstrating closeness to prisoners by offering the Mass at some of the city's prisons.

Good Friday

Continuing the liturgies of the Triduum, Leo is scheduled to preside over a service for the passion of the Lord on Good Friday at 5 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.

During this liturgy, which is not a Mass, it is the custom for the papal preacher —  currently Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap — to give a sermon on Christ's crucifixion.

In the evening, the pope will lead the Stations of the Cross devotion at the Colosseum starting at 9:15 p.m.

Holy Saturday

Leo will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at 9 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Easter Vigil, which takes place on Holy Saturday night, "is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities," according to the Roman Missal.

The liturgy begins in darkness with the blessing of the new fire and the preparation of the paschal candle. At the Vatican, cardinals, bishops, and priests process through the dark basilica carrying lit candles to signify the light of Christ coming to dispel the darkness.

The pope also typically baptizes new Catholics at this Mass.

Easter Sunday

The morning of Easter Sunday, Leo will preside over Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10:15 a.m. on a flower-decked parvise.

After Mass, he will give the annual Easter "urbi et orbi blessing" from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

"Urbi et orbi" means "to the city [of Rome] and to the world" and is a special apostolic blessing given by the pope every year on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.

For Easter Sunday, the square will be decorated with thousands of flowers from the Netherlands, a custom spanning 40 years.

This year, the arrangements will include 65,000 tulip, daffodil, hyacinth, and mini daffodil bulbs; 220 white and orange violets; 7,800 roses, delphiniums, anthuriums, chrysanthemums, gerberas, and matthiolas; 600 branches of plumosa; 80 azaleas; and 600 long branches of willow catkins, long branches of eucalyptus, and various types of foliage.

Easter Monday

Pope Leo will mark Easter Monday, also called "Monday of the Angel," by praying the Regina Caeli, a Marian prayer recited during the Easter season, at noon from a window of the Apostolic Palace.

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Pope Leo XIV on March 28 condemned all military conflicts, which he argued are the result of the "idolatry of power and money" and which "bloody" God's gift of grace to men.

God's grace "illuminates our present, because the wars that bloody it are the result of the idolatry of power and money," said Leo in the homily he delivered during the Mass at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco.

Four months after his first apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon, the pontiff ended his lightning visit to the Principality of Monaco with the Mass in the stadium dedicated to Prince Louis II, who reigned between 1922 and 1949.

The stadium has a capacity for more than 18,000 spectators, which makes it a prominent place for sporting and entertainment events, in addition to being an ideal place for the papal Mass.

Upon his arrival, Leo toured the venue in a golf cart, from which he greeted and blessed the cheering faithful who were waiting for him while waving flags of the Vatican City and of Monaco.

The logic of power versus innocence

In his homily, the pope highlighted the biblical account in which the members of the Sanhedrin decide to kill Jesus.

From this passage, he explained that the face of God is revealed alongside those who, moved by power interests, are willing to eliminate the innocent.

As he pointed out, Caiphas' verdict is born from a political calculation based on fear: "Forgetting God's promise to his people, they want to kill the innocent, because behind their fear is the attachment to power."

"Isn't that what happens today?" the pope asked. "Even today, how many calculations are made in the world to kill innocent people; how many false reasons are used to get them out of the way!"

Not getting used to war

The pontiff called for the purification of the "idolatry" that feeds wars and turns men into slaves of other men, while urging the faithful to not get used to violence.

"Every truncated life is a wound to the body of Christ. Let's not get used to the rumble of weapons or the images of war!" he exclaimed.

In this sense, he stressed that peace cannot be reduced to a balance of power: "It is not a mere balance of forces, but the work of purified hearts, of those who see in the other a brother to take care of, not an enemy to bring down."

Mercy, response to evil

Faced with the persistence of evil, the pope recalled that God's justice acts as a source of hope and renewal: "The Lord frees from pain by infusing hope, he converts the hardness of the heart by transforming power into service, precisely while manifesting the true name of his omnipotence: mercy."

In this way, he assured that it is "mercy that saves the world" because it takes charge of all human existence, "in each of its weaknesses, from the moment it is conceived in the womb until it ages," he added.

A message on the eve of Easter

The pope's visit to Monaco, just eight hours long, was made at the invitation of Albert II of Monaco.

It took place on the eve of Holy Week, a context to which the pope referred during his homily. "The Lord changes the history of the world by calling us from idolatry to true faith, from death to life," he said.

In this context, he also evoked the prophet Jeremiah: "In the face of the numerous injustices that destroy the peoples and the war that plagues the nations, the voice of the prophet Jeremiah is constantly raised: I will change their mourning into joy, I will make them happy and I will console them with their affliction" (Jer 31,13).

The joy that is born of charity

Finally, the pontiff called the faithful to be witnesses of hope, making "many happy with their faith" and sharing a joy that is not acquired as a prize, but is born of charity.

"The source of this joy is the love of God: love for the nascent and fragile life, which must always be welcomed and cared for; love for young and old life, which must be encouraged in the trials of each stage; love for healthy and sick life, sometimes alone, always in need of being accompanied with care," he concluded.

At the end of the celebration, the Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, thanked Pope Leo XIV for his visit, emphasizing that God is "the source of all good" and that the pontiff, as the successor of Peter, has come to remind the local Church of this.

In this sense, he stressed that the pope has encouraged the faithful to face "fearlessly" the current challenges, aware that they have "a treasure capable of sustaining hope, ours and that of the world."

On the eve of Holy Week, David said that the pope's visit has served to "confirm the faith of his brothers," reinforcing the commitment of the Christian community.

Pope Leo XIV gave the Archdiocese of Monaco a contemporary sculpture by St. Francis of Assisi. The work represents the Italian saint, one of the most beloved figures of the Christian tradition and universally recognized as a messenger of peace, fraternity and reconciliation.

Francis in the sculpture appears dressed in the simple Franciscan habit, a symbol of evangelical poverty and inner freedom, girded by the characteristic cord with three knots.

In the sculpture the saint holds a white dove in his left hand, while the right hand opens in a gesture of welcome and donation.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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